Method and system for carrying out verification processes with regard to authorization of use and/or payment processes via a mobile telephone terminal, as well as a mobile telephone terminal, an interrogation station, a control program for a mobile telephone terminal and a control program for an interrogations station

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the carrying out of verification processes with regard to authorization of user and/or payment processes by means of a mobile telephone terminal, whereby an identifier associated with an authorized user and/or payer is provided in such a way that it can be called up and represented on a display device of a mobile telephone terminal associated with the authorized user and/or payer. On the instructions of the authorized user and/or payer, the identifier is represented on the display device and optically scanned in an interrogation station. A control message with a request for confirmation of a process verifying the authorization of use and/or payment process is transmitted to the mobile telephone terminal. In order to grant use and/or carry out payment, the control message receives a reply by transmitting a confirmation message from the mobile telephone terminal to the interrogation station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To date, a number of approaches have been developed for using mobiletelephones to carry out verification processes with regard toauthorization of use and or payment processes. An example of this isdisclosed in DE 199 03 822 A1 wherein a method for carrying out cashlesspayments via a mobile telephone is described. In this method, a sum ofmoney to be paid and an identification of a SIM-card (SubscriberIdentity Module) of the mobile telephone are read into a vendorterminal. An infra-red interface between the mobile telephone and thevendor terminal is recommended to transmit the identification of theSIM-card into the vendor terminal. After importation into the vendorterminal, the sum of money to be paid and the identification of theSIM-card, along with the identification of the vendor terminal, aretransmitted to a matching device and examined. A positive examinationresult effects the opening of a transaction. Subsequently, transactiondata is transmitted to the mobile telephone in order to interrogate aconfirmation message. A confirmation message of the transaction datarecords the transaction and the transaction data is transmitted to theaccount administering device.

However, the method described is more suitable to a small amount oftransaction data. In other words, payment processes are time-consumingas a result of the type of connection structures deployed for theinitiation and confirmation of payment transactions between mobiletelephones, vendor terminals and matching devices. In this respect,critical applications are, for example, the payment process at thesupermarket checkout, which is inadequately covered by the methoddisclosed in DE 199 03 822 A1.

The present invention is therefore directed to a method and a system forcarrying out verification processes with regard to authorization of useand or payment processes via a mobile telephone terminal, whichconsiderably reduces the time taken for the verification process withregard to authorization of use and implementation of cashless paymenttransactions and specifies suitable system components to achieve suchmethod.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the duration of the verificationprocesses with regard to authorization of use and the implementation ofcashless payment transactions is considerably reduced by opticallyscanning an identifier associated with an authorized user and/or payer,at an interrogation station, and via a direct transmission of aconfirmation message from a mobile telephone terminal of the authorizeduser and/or payer in the interrogation station. Optical scanning of theidentifier avoids delays resulting from the infra-red transmission whichare contingent on the compatibility problems between the affectedcomponents and on an agreement about a transmission protocol to be used.Direct transmission of confirmation messages to the interrogationstation typically does away with a diversion via a matching device whichcauses an additional delay when the confirmation message is sent to theinterrogation station. The provision of a control message transmitted tothe mobile telephone terminal enables a prompt evaluation of theconfirmation message in the interrogation station.

Furthermore, the identifier does not necessarily have to represent aSIM-card identifier, but it also can be an ID card, a credit card, acustomer number or similar. In this way, the method according to thepresent invention can be easily implemented in the most varied ofapplication environments. For example, the mobile telephone terminal canbe a conventional mobile telephone, an electronic assistant/appointmentcalendar, a communicator, an organizer, a Palm-PC or another type ofmobile terminal with a radio send/receive module. For example, theinterrogation station can be applied to any type of cash desk system,pay point, access control system or mobile terminal for operatingpersonnel within public transport systems.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed in, and will be apparent from, the following DetailedDescription of the Invention and the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement with a mobile telephone terminal, aninterrogation station, a matching device and an account administeringdevice.

FIGS. 2 a-b show a flow diagram for carrying out verification processeswith regard to authorization of use and/or payment processes with amobile telephone terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of a mobile telephone terminal 101, aninterrogation station 102, a matching device 103 and an accountadministering device 104. The mobile telephone terminal 101 isassociated with an authorized user and/or payer whereas theinterrogation station 102 is associated with a service provider or avendor. The mobile telephone terminal 101 includes display device 111and control element 112. Text and graphics information can be displayedon the display device 111. This type of text and/or graphics informationcan be recorded via an optical scanning device 121 (scanner). Theinterrogation station 102 includes the control elements 122 to controlthe user and/or application dialogs.

A starting point for the method described below for carrying outverification processes with regard to authorization of use and/orpayment processes is the registration of an authorized user or payer asan operator of a verification process with regard to authorization ofuse and or payment system. This corresponds to Step 201 within the flowdiagram in FIG. 2. After registration, the user data collected duringthe registration (step 202) is verified. Successful verification enablesidentifier 105 associated with an authorized user and/or payer and anapplication 108 to be transmitted to the mobile telephone terminal 101of the authorized user and/or payer (Step 203). For example, identifier105 and application 108 are transmitted from matching device 103 of theverification process with regard to authorization of use and paymentsystem operator to the mobile telephone terminal 101.

Application 108 is essentially a control program for mobile telephoneterminal 101 which, when run, executes the steps described belowperformed in mobile telephone terminal 101. Correspondingly, theinterrogation station 102 is provided with a control program which isrun by a microprocessor in interrogation station 102 which is not shownin any greater detail in the diagram.

Transmitted application 108 is initiated on the instructions of theauthorized user and/or payer. During the start of application 108, a PINnumber is interrogated for authentication (Step 204). Subsequently, abar code is produced from identifier 105 which can be called-up andshown on display device 111 of mobile telephone terminal 101 (Step 205).Subsequently, the barcode is scanned in the interrogation system 102(Step 206), and identifier 105, transmitted via the barcode, is examined(Step 207). The examination of identifier 105 can be effected directlythrough the interrogation station 102. Alternatively, identifier 105 canbe transmitted to the matching device 103 and examined on the basis ofthe database entries stored therein.

In the case of successful examination, a user/application dialog isoffered as an option with the interrogation station 101 (Step 208), forexample, for selecting a user/payment option. Subsequently, in the caseof successful examination of the identifier 105, control message 106 istransmitted with a request for verification and confirmation of averification process with regard to authorization of use and/or paymentprocess to the mobile telephone terminal 101 (Step 209). The controlmessage can, for example, be transmitted from matching device 103 tomobile telephone terminal 101 via radio interface. An alternative is atransmission of the control message 106 via a Bluetooth connection fromthe interrogation station 102 to the mobile telephone terminal 101. Thisalternative enables a particularly rapid execution sequence.

In order to grant use and/or carry out payment, control message 106receives a reply by transmitting a confirmation message 107 from mobiletelephone terminal 101 to the interrogation station 102 (Step 210). Theresponse can either occur on the instructions of the authorized userand/or payer, or automatically via the mobile telephone terminal 101.Confirmation message 107 is represented either on display device 111 ofthe mobile telephone terminal 101 as a barcode and scanned optically inthe interrogation station 102, or is transmitted via a Bluetoothconnection from mobile telephone terminal 101 to the interrogationstation 102.

A particularly rapid method execution sequence is produced if controlmessage 106 is provided substantially at the same time as itstransmission to the mobile telephone terminal 101 in interrogationstation 102. In this case, an evaluation of the confirmation message 107can take place at an early stage in the interrogation station 102 (Step211). With this type of evaluation, the control message 106 andconfirmation message 107 are compared in the simplest of cases forattributes which agree with or match each other.

A positive evaluation result effects a release to grant use and/or carryout payment via interrogation station 102 (step 212). Finally,application 108 running on mobile telephone terminal 101 terminates(Step 213) and can be started again.

During implementation of a payment process, the evaluation result,together with payment transaction data, can be transmitted to thematching device 103 in accordance with step 211. Depending on the typeof evaluation result, a corresponding payment transaction is eitherrejected or recorded. During the recording of the payment transaction,the payment transaction data is forwarded to account administeringdevice 104 in order to trigger the accounting process.

A direct implementation of the previously described method is possibleon a JAVA-compatible mobile telephone terminal 101. This is done byinstalling the application 108 on mobile telephone terminal 101.Biometric user characteristics can be used to protect application 108from unauthorized access as an alternative to protection by a user PINnumber.

Further implementations of the previously described method via WAP orSMS variations such as EMS and MMS can be technically achieved. With aWAP implementation, instead of application 108, a URL is transmitted tothe mobile telephone terminal 101 for access to a corresponding WAPserver and the barcode is generated by a WAP server.

For the previously described method, the usage scenarios described beloware possible without in any way restricting the general applicability ofthe method.

Scenario 1: Cash Desk at Venue (Exhibition, Cinema, Concert)

The above-mentioned application is installed on a customer's mobiletelephone terminal. The application is started, the customer entershis/her PIN number and the mobile telephone terminal generates a uniquebarcode. This barcode is scanned at an interrogation station within theentrance area of the venue. In this way, a customer identifier isestablished. A server linked to the interrogation station examineswhether the customer has booked and/or paid for the event in question.After the transmission and evaluation of the control and confirmationmessage, the customer is admitted where appropriate.

Scenario 2: Railways/Local Rapid Transit Rail Links

The customer starts the application on his/her mobile telephone terminaland enters his/her user PIN number. The mobile telephone terminalgenerates a unique barcode. The customer holds his/her mobile telephoneterminal in front of an optical scanning device of a ticket machine andthe scanning device records the barcode. Finally, the customeridentifier is determined from the recorded barcode. The customeridentifier and the booking information supplied by the customer arestored on a central server linked to the ticket machine. At ticketinspection, the barcode recorded on the mobile telephone terminal isdisplayed once again. By accessing the central server, a match with thebooking information and a ticket cancellation is effected.

Scenario 3: Gas Station

A pay point can be found in a gas station, where a mobile telephoneterminal can be used. The customer starts the application on his/hermobile telephone terminal and enters his/her PIN number. The mobiletelephone terminal produces a unique barcode. The customer holds his/hermobile telephone terminal in front of an optical scanning device in thepay point, whereby the barcode is recorded and the customer identifieris determined. Finally, a dialog is initiated with the customer whichdetermines at which pump he/she is located and the amount of fuel he/sherequires. This data is summarized as payment transaction data and istransmitted via a control message to the customer's mobile telephoneterminal. Subsequently, the customer is able to confirm the paymenttransaction by responding to the control message with a confirmationmessage which, in turn, is transmitted to the pay point. A positiveevaluation resulting from a comparison of control and confirmationmessages causes the pay point to release the requested pump for aselected payment amount and the customer is thus able to dispense thefuel.

Scenario 4: Discount System

A discount system represents a special scenario. In this case, as aresult of minor safety requirements, there is no need to even transmitcontrol and confirmation messages. Manipulation tests are of no use heresince a possible discount, at most one-third, is not credited to thecustomer at the interrogation station. Thus, the customer has nomotivation to manipulate the system at the interrogation station.

The aforementioned scenarios serve to illustrate that in the simplest ofcases the only function of an interrogation station is to scan thebarcode and transmit/forward the scanned result.

Although the present invention has been described with reference tospecific embodiments, those of skill in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as set forth in the hereafter appended claims.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A method for carrying out verification processeswith regard to at least one of authorization of use and authorization ofpayment processes via a mobile telephone terminal, the method comprisingthe steps of: providing an identifier, which can be called-up and isassociated with a particular party who is at least one of an authorizedperson and an authorized payer, for display on a display device of amobile telephone terminal associated with the particular party;displaying the identifier on the display device and optically scanningthe identifier at an interrogation station on instructions of theparticular party; transmitting to the mobile telephone terminal acontrol message with a request for confirmation of a process verifyingat least one of an authorization of use and authorization of a paymentprocess; and transmitting a confirmation message, as a reply to thecontrol message, from the mobile telephone terminal to the interrogationstation so as to at least one of grant use and carry out a payment. 15.A method for carrying out verification processes as claimed in claim 14,wherein transmission of the confirmation message occurs on theinstructions of the particular party.
 16. A method for carrying outverification processes as claimed in claim 14, wherein transmission ofthe confirmation message occurs automatically.
 17. A method for carryingout verification processes as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controlmessage is provided in the interrogation station at substantially a sametime as the transmission of the control message to the mobile telephoneterminal, and the confirmation message is evaluated in the interrogationstation.
 18. A method for carrying out verification processes as claimedin claim 14, wherein the control message is transmitted via a matchingdevice.
 19. A method for carrying out verification processes as claimedin claim 14, wherein the control message is transmitted via a Bluetoothconnection from the interrogation station to the mobile telephoneterminal.
 20. A method for carrying out verification processes asclaimed in claim 14, wherein the confirmation message is displayed onthe display device of the mobile telephone terminal and is opticallyscanned at the interrogation station.
 21. A method for carrying outverification processes as claimed in claim 14, wherein the confirmationmessage is transmitted via a Bluetooth connection from the mobiletelephone terminal to the interrogation station.
 22. A system forcarrying out verification processes with regard to at least one ofauthorization of use and authorization of payment processes, comprising:a mobile telephone terminal associated with a particular party who is atleast one of an authorized person and an authorized payer; aninterrogation station; and a device for transmitting a control messageto the mobile telephone terminal requiring confirmation of averification process with regard to at least one of an authorization ofuse and an authorization of a payment process in the mobile telephoneterminal; wherein the mobile telephone terminal comprises: a displaydevice; a device for providing an identifier which is associated withthe particular party for display on the display device and which can becalled-up; a device for receiving the control message; and a device fortransmitting a confirmation message to the interrogation station as areply to the control message so as to at least one of grant use andcarry out a payment; and wherein the interrogation station comprises anoptical scanning device for scanning the identifier represented on thedisplay device on instructions of the particular party.
 23. A mobiletelephone terminal, comprising: a display device; a device providing anidentifier which is associated with a particular party who is at leastone of an authorized user and an authorized payer, with the identifierable to be called-up and represented on the display device; a device forreceiving a control message from an interrogation station requestingconfirmation of a verification process with regard to at least one ofauthorization of use and authorization of payment process; and a devicefor transmitting a confirmation message to the interrogation station asa reply to the control message so as to at least one of grant use andcarry out payment.
 24. An interrogation station, comprising: an opticalscanning device for scanning an identifier displayed on a mobiletelephone terminal associated with a particular party who is at leastone of an authorized user and an authorized payer on instructions of theparticular party; a device for providing a control message to betransmitted to the mobile telephone terminal requesting confirmation ofa verification process with regard to at least one of authorization ofuse and authorization of a payment process; and a device for evaluatinga transmitted confirmation message, received as a reply to the controlmessage, from the mobile telephone terminal so as to at least one ofgrant use and carry out a payment
 25. A control program for a mobiletelephone terminal which can be loaded into a memory of the mobiletelephone terminal and includes at least one code section, whereinrunning of the control program in the mobile telephone terminal effectsa method comprising the steps of: providing an identifier, which can becalled-up and is associated with a particular party who is at least oneof an authorized person and an authorized payer, for display on adisplay device of a mobile telephone terminal associated with theparticular party; displaying the identifier on the display device andoptically scanning the identifier at an interrogation station oninstructions of the particular party; transmitting to the mobiletelephone terminal a control message with a request for confirmation ofa process verifying at least one of an authorization of use andauthorization of a payment process; and transmitting a confirmationmessage, as a reply to the control message, from the mobile telephoneterminal to the interrogation station so as to at least one of grant useand carry out a payment.
 26. A control program for an interrogationstation which is loadable in a memory of the interrogation station andincludes at least one code section, wherein running of the controlprogram in the interrogation station effects a method comprising thesteps of: providing an identifier, which can be called-up and isassociated with a particular party who is at least one of an authorizedperson and an authorized payer, for display on a display device of amobile telephone terminal associated with the particular party;displaying the identifier on the display device and optically scanningthe identifier at an interrogation station on instructions of theparticular party; transmitting to the mobile telephone terminal acontrol message with a request for confirmation of a process verifyingat least one of an authorization of use and authorization of a paymentprocess; and transmitting a confirmation message, as a reply to thecontrol message, from the mobile telephone terminal to the interrogationstation so as to at least one of grant use and carry out a payment.